Rules for New Year resolutions

With the start of a new year, the season of new year resolutions is upon us once again. The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to try something new and the resolutions you set up might just be the magic bullet that your life needs. Here are some rules to keep in mind while brainstorming about a resolution, they might just help you to commit to something that is more practicable.

Rules for New Year resolutions <Courtesy: Tim Mossholder>

Have specific measures around your resolutions: For Example:

If you want to lose weight then your resolution must target a specific number of kgs/pounds you are willing to lose. You should also have a date by which you are hoping to achieve that target.
If you want to buy a house, then put a date around when you would like to start house hunting and when you would like to close the deal by.

Break up resolutions which center around large goals into smaller ones: Let's say you want to lose 20 kgs in a year. Think about how about many kgs you need to lose in a month in order reach your target by the end of the year. The number will roughly work out to around 1.7 kgs/month. Setting a monthly target will not only help you assess how well you are doing from the perspective of your overall goal but will also help you stay motivated by celebrating quick wins every month.
Set a resolution which centers around solving long standing problems: If something has been pulling you down for way too long, try to ensure that you don't allow it to fester for one more year. More often than not these perennial issues also eat into the enthusiasm we have for committing to new resolutions. Therefore do not procrastinate and focus on what need's fixing before building something new.
Attack big problems upfront: Setting dates doesn't mean that you resolve to complete everything only by the end of the year. See that you target to target a big ticket item for the first quarter or at least the first half of the year. Even if you get stuck somewhere, you would have uncovered potential stumbling blocks relatively early in the process. While you strategize how to overcome those hurdles, you can allocate time for the other items on your list.
Don't ignore low hanging fruits: Finally a resolution doesn't always need to be big, mean or tough. Sometimes you never get to what's always within reach.

If there's a car at home and you haven't done driving before then start taking driving lessons. Who knows this simple step might help you with your dream of taking road trips.
If there's an aquatic center nearby then take up that swimming lesson which you have been avoiding. Next time you visit a resort you might end up having a great time in the water rather than shying away from it as you have done before.
If there's a repair that you have been putting off, make time and get to it. You will be amazed at the satisfaction you receive when something starts working fine again. It will make you wonder why you didn't get to it sooner.

This year be resolute about your resolutions and don't let anything come in the way of attaining them. Create a list which is a harmonious mix of the issues on hand and the goals you need to set in order to progress. Most importantly cultivate habits which will allow you to take up a personal responsibility for attaining these goals. This is your list, your life and you are doing this to upgrade yourself. I don't know of a cause which is more worthy than that in life.

Until Next Time,

Wishing You All a Happy New Year,

Your Life Analyst,

Chaitanya J.J.

Comments

Zamarrud Theatre Hyderabad

More than two decades ago a 5 year old boy (yours truly) found himself in Abids which was certainly then the microcosm of Hyderabad. Abids in the 80s <Courtesy: OkaTeluguAbbayi > The occasion was a family outing to Zamarrud Cinema. And we are stepping out for not just any movie my friends, my parents decided that nothing less than the Raj Kapoor blockbuster Chori Chori was good enough for us. To be honest I wasn't exactly enthused about watching a black and white film of a bygone era even though the movie had all the credentials of a classic. But that was before I saw Zamarrud, the theatre where the movie was being played. Nested in the heart of Abids, Zamarrud was the perfect amalgamation of Hyderabad's old world charm and new fangled ways. Zamarrud was not just any theatre, it was one of the first air conditioned halls in Hyderabad, a premiere cinema hall which used to host the best of what the film industry had to offer and the place to go for Hyderabad...

KBR National Park

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the fifth largest city in India - Hyderabad lies KBR (Kasu Brahmananda Reddy) National Park . It's difficult to imagine a natural habitat in the center of a concrete jungle but that's exactly what KBR park is - an oasis in middle of an urban desert . One of Hyderabad's prized tourist attractions which in my opinion doesn't get the attention it deserves. The Entrance <Courtesy: Andhra Aroma > I don't remember when I first noticed the park but it soon became a sight which I couldn't miss during the course of my everyday commute to work. I always wondered what lay beyond the entrance but never found the time to check it out for myself until last year. But let me back up a bit, there's a back story to my first visit to the park. In my ' Count Your Blessings ' post, I talked about how a walk around my office building started a positive change in my life. That incident made ' walking ' ...

Mahabharata - An All Time Classic by C.Rajagopalachari

There are books which you read and then there are books which make you read them and change your life. Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari's (Rajaji's) Mahabharata belongs to the latter category. Mahabharata introduced me to the joy of reading books as a kid and today I couldn't have picked a better topic for my 25th post. I cannot describe what a pleasure and honor it is to extol the virtues of this classic book during this holy festive season of Makar Sankranti . Mahabharata an all time classic by C. Rajagopalachari The story of Mahabharata is as old as the mountains and has been retold several times. Mahabharata by Rajaji however stands out in my mind because here is a story which is spiritual yet not religious, is thought provoking yet not preachy, is compelling yet not tedious. The story left an indelible impression upon me for several reasons which are: Rajaji uses extremely simple language to convey some of the finer aspects of the saga. I was 10 years old when I r...

The grandeur of Gandikota Fort

Where? About 400 kms from Hyderabad. Gandikota fort overlooking the gorge over Pennar river What is it? A picturesque fort on top of a gorge steeped in history and relevant for multiethnic communities. Plaque detailing the history of Gandikota fort What greeted us within the fort? We made our way into the fort through a majestic entrance which was constructed wide enough for the royal elephants to march in. The majestic entrance of Gandikota fort Gandikota's own version of Charminar and an ancient prison house were the next stops on the journey. Charminar - Gandikota fort version The ancient prison house - Gandikota fort Then, the magnificent Madhavaraya temple with its awe-inspiring gopuram and resplendently carved pavilions emerged. This temple is an excellent example of Vijayanagara school of architecture. The spectacular Madhavaraya temple within the Gandikota fort Vijayanagara school of architecture - Madhavaraya temple pavilions Next stop was to the Gandikota go...

Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran

Backdrop: I diligently avoid docudramas based on real incidents as they only rehash what we already know without adding anything new. That's precisely the reason why I avoided watching Parmanu all these weeks but it's been a while since I saw a movie and the lack of decent fair at the cinemas coupled with upbeat critical reviews for Parmanu finally cajoled me into watching it. Boy! Was I thrilled to watch a competent movie which was slick and gripping till the very end. The verdict is out first but keep reading as to what makes this movie a recommended watch . (Credits: IndiaToday.in ) Plot: It's 1995 and India is facing an existential crisis amidst mounting defensive and strategic pressures from it's neighboring countries. I.A.S. officer, Ashwat Raina ( John Abraham ), believes that India's road to political parity lies in establishing a nuclear program. The recommendation is taken up but Ashwat Raina's plan is not followed to the ' T', resu...

Life Etc Etc

Search This Blog